Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/308664
51A SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2014 | SAGAFTRA.org J A M E S R E B H O R N 1948 - 2014 Before his passing on March 21, veteran character actor James Rebhorn penned his own obituary, which we share with you below. J ames Robert Rebhorn was born on Sept. 1, 1948, in Philadelphia, Penn. His mother, Ardell Frances Rebhorn, nee Hoch, loved him very much and supported all his dreams. She taught him the value of good manners and courtesy, and that hospitality is no small thing. His father, James Harry Rebhorn, was no less devoted to him. From him, Jim learned that there is no excuse for poor crasmanship. A job well done rarely takes more or less time than a job poorly done. ey gave him his faith and wisely encouraged him to stay in touch with God. He is survived by his sister, Janice Barbara Galbraith, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. She was his friend, his confidant and, more oen than either of them would like to admit, his bridge over troubled waters. He is also survived by his wife, Rebecca Fulton Linn, and his two daughters, Emma Rebecca Rebhorn and Hannah Linn Rebhorn. ey anchored his life and gave him the freedom to live it. Without them, always at the center of his being, his life would have been little more than a vapor. Rebecca loved him with all his flaws, and in her the concept of ceaseless love could find no better example. His children made him immensely proud. eir dedication to improving our species and making the world a better place gave him hope for the future. ey deal with grief differently, and they should each manage it as they see fit. He hopes, however, that they will grieve his passing only as long as necessary. ey have much good work to do, and they should get busy doing it. Time is flying by. His son-in-law, Ben, also survives him. Jim loved Ben, who was as a son to Jim, especially through these last months. His aunts Jean, Dorothy and Florence, numerous cousins and their families, and many devoted friends also survive Jim. He loved them all, and he knows they loved him. Jim received his B.A. at Wittenberg University and his MFA at Columbia. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Nu Zeta 624, a life-long Lutheran, and a longtime member of both the AMC and ACLU. Jim was fortunate enough to earn his living doing what he loved. He was a professional actor. His unions were always there for him, and he will remain forever grateful for the benefits he gained as a result of the union struggle. Without his exceptional teachers and the representation of the best agents in the business, he wouldn't have had much of a career. He was a lucky man in every way. —JIM REBHORN, March 2014 I met Jim when I first came to New York (we were fellow students in the graduate MFA program in acting at Columbia). He was so talented and intelligent — but most especially, kind to all. I followed his career with such pleasure — how satisfying it is when a really good guy succeeds. But I got to know him even better when we became fellow members of the Ensemble Studio Theatre — and when he agreed to be on the W&W committee I was chairing for AFTRA in 2008 for TV/Theatrical. Tough year — AFTRA and SAG parted ways — and Jim went on to help AFTRA negotiate a terrific contract under the brilliant leadership of Roberta Reardon — with wisdom, integrity and dedication. I think Roberta, more than anyone, helped inspire him to give service to our union. Fast forward to this year, when Jim knew his diagnosis was quite serious but kept doing spectacular work, in the beautiful play Too Much Too Much Too Many with Phyllis Somerville (also on my '08 W&W committee — small world!), and as Carrie's dad in Homeland, just to name a few. The man was always working! And, amazingly, he again participated in the W&W process up until just a few weeks before he died. He was even Remembering Jim - Following are just a few remembrances by fellow New York members who knew him well. JEMAL COUNTESS/WIREIMAGE.COM